The 2022 Subrosa Novus is a good bike based on quality. But the value of this bike is a little disappointing. The Novus is packed full of aftermarket parts including the Interlock chain, Treymone Stem, and Big Bitchin’ Cranks. However, for this price range i’d expect to see more main components that are aftermarket.
It’s not that this is a bad bike, it’s just over priced. I’ll explain why in this post.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How Much Does it Weigh? | 25.9 LBS |
| How Much Does it Cost? | $1199 |
| Can I upgrade it? | Yes, you can easily replace and upgrade this bike |
| Does it have any pegs? | No pegs or hub guards |
| Does it have Brakes? | Rant spring brakes, removable brake mounts, gyro holes drilled |
| What options does it have? | 21″ Trans Black |
| Gearing Info | Shadow Symbol – Cassette – RHD |
Geometry and Sizing
Let’s talk about the sizing of this bike so you can decide if it will be the right size for your height. Check out the Dougsterbob Size guide to see what you need to be looking for when shopping for a new BMX bike.
The most common cause of failure in BMX is an improperly sized BMX bike.
Frame Size
| Toptube Size 1 | 21″ |
| Height Recommendation | Over 6′ |
| Big Bike Background | Over 5′ 9″ |
Frame Geometry
| Head Tube Angle | 75º |
| Standover Height | 9” |
| Chain Stay Length | 13.2” |
| Bottom Bracket Height | 11.6” |
This is a very standard geometry. It will have a nice balance of stability and responsiveness. Perfect for a new rider who does not know why type of geometry suits them best.
Other Geometry
| Fork Offset | 27mm |
| Bar Rise | 9” |
| Bar Width | TBD |
| Crank Length | 170mm |
| Stem Specs | 51mm reach and 27mm rise |
| Gear Ratio | 25/9 |
The 27mm fork offset is right in between the two common extremes of 15mm and 32mm. This will balance stability and responsivness. The stem on the Novus is longer than average with a 51mm reach. This pulls the handlebars further away from the center of the stem to give a stable steering response.
Quality & Weight Limit
The quality determines how long your bike will last and how it will hold up to certain levels of riding. Get the highest quality bike that you can afford because this will increase its longevity.
| Quality Score | 7.6 |
| Weight Limit | No weight limit |
Main Component Quality
| Frame | Full Chromoly Frame – Butted TT and DT |
| Forks | AM Subrosa Simo Forks – 1 pc inc steertube – heat treated |
| Bars | Full Chromoly – 2 pc bars |
| Cranks | Subrosa Big Bitching – Full chromoly – 48 spline |
| Rims | Shadow Truss Rim – double wall – welded seem |
The main components are high quality. On Subrosa’s Novus, you will find aftermarket Rims, Cranks, and Forks. This means that these parts will outlast all other parts. Aftermarket parts have a higher attention to detail and better quality.
I’m impressed with these aftermarket main components because they probably cost close to $400 if they were bought separately.
✅ Part Package Highlights
- Subrosa Barcalona 25t Sprocket
- Shadow CNC Treymone Stem
- Fully Sealed
- Pivotal Seat/post combo
- Shadow Interlock V2 Half-link Chain
❌ Part Package Lowlights
- No pegs or hubguards
- Low PSI Shadow Strada Tires
Utility
Certain bikes are better for certain types of riding. Let’s talk about what type of riding this bike is best for. Remember, you can always make upgrades to make it better for your desired type of riding.
| Type of Riding | Dirt |
| Street | 5.56 |
| Park | 4.36 |
| Dirt | 5.9 |
Good Upgrades
| Upgrade 1 | Pegs and Hubguards |
| Upgrade 2 | Bars |
| Upgrade 3 | Tires |
Conclusion
The Novus is NOT a bad bike… But the quality is pretty disappointing when you consider this insanely high price tag. If the bikes was around $900 that’d be a different story. But for $1200 I expect to see more after market parts.
The bike is designed for a taller rider who wants a really solid bmx bike. But I can find you a much better value bike if you request a recommendation.
Request a Recommendation from me to guarantee you get the perfect bike.
